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http://www.arGhive.org/details/dialoguebetweenGOOamer 


■-^^^^ 

'  Nor  be  thou  such  a  silly  fool 
To  mind  tbj  book,  or  go  to  school." 


DIALOGUE 


CHRIST,  A  YOUTH,  AND  THE  DEVIL 


EMBELLISHED  WITH  CUTS  FBOM 
ORIGINAL  DESIGNS. 


SXWSD  BY  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  PWBUCATION  OF  TH> 
▲MSBICA.N  SCNDAY-SCHOOL  VMIOK, 


Ibilabelpbia: 

AMERICAN  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  UNION, 

1122  Chestndt  St. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congrets,  in  the  year  1846,  by 
the  American  Sunday-school  Union,  in  the  clerk's  office  of  tho 
District  Court  of  the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


PREFACE. 


Multitudes  of  the  children  and  youth 
of  our  country  are  already  familiar  with 
this  dialogue  ;  and  we  have  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  it  has  oftentimes  awakened  se- 
rious thoughts,  and  impressed  on  their 
mmds  sentiments  of  the  deepest  interest 
and  solemnity. 

To  make  it  still  more  useful  and  popu- 
lar among  our  young  friends,  we  fiave 
published  this  embellished  edition,  and 
have,  at  the  same  time,  kept  in  view  the 
importance  of  a  very  low  price,  as  the 
^  means  of  securing  for  it  extensive  circu- 
lation,— especially  among  the  children  and 


6 

youth   of  the  West,   where  we  hope  to 
scatter  them  by  nundreds  of  thousands ! 

jf  :■)/'•: 

May  it  please  the  God  of  all  grace  to 
use  it  as  the  means  of  alarming,  convinc- 
ing and  converting  many  youth  from  the 
service  of  sin,  to  the  love  and  obedience 
of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Christ. 


YOUTH. 

Those  days  which  God  to  me  doth  send, 
In  pleasure  I'm  resolved  to  spend  ; 
Like  as  the  birds,  in  lovely  spring, 
Sit  chirping  on  the  boughs,  and  sing,— 
Who,  straining  forth  those  warbling  notes^ 
Do  make  sweet  aiusic  in  their  throats, — 


O  I  resolve  in  this   my 
prime, 

In  sports  and  plays  to  spend  my  time. 
Sorrow  and  grief  I'll  put  away  ; 
Such  things  agree  not  with  my  day. 
From  clouds  my  morning  shall  be  free, 
And  nought  on  earth  shall  trouble  me. 
I  will  embrace  each  sweet  delight 
This  earth  affords  me  day  and  night ; 
Though  parents  grieve,  and  me  correct, 
Yet  I  their  counsel  will  reject. 


DEVIL. 

The  resolution  which  you  take, 
Sweet  Youth,  it  doth  me  merry  make. 


"  And  with  thy  brothers  •wilt  fall  out, 
And  sisters,  with  vile  language,  flout." 

Page  11. 


11 


F  thou  ray  counsel  wilt 
embrace, 

And  shun  the  ways  of  truth  and  grace, 
And  learn  to  lie,  to  curse,  and  swear. 
And  be  as  proud  as  any  are, 
And  with  thy  brothers  wilt  fall  out. 
And  sisters,  with  vile  language,  flout. 
Yea,  fight  and  scratch,  and  also  bite. 
Then  I,  in  thee,  will  take  delight. 
If  thou  w^ilt  but  be  ruled  by  me, 
An  artist  thou  shalt  quickly  be  > 

In  all  my  ways,  (which  lovely  are  ,) 
There's  few  with  thee  who  shall  compare. 
Thy  parents  always  disobey  ; 
Nor  mind  at  all  what  they  do  say  ; 


12 


*>^: 


ND  also  proud  and 
gj'(^f'  I'  ''A  sullen  be, 

And  thou  shalt  be  a  child  for  me. 
When  others  read,  be  thou  at  play ; 
Think  not  on  God  ;  don't  mind  to  pray ; 
Nor  be  thou  such  a  silly  fool 
To  mind  thy  book,  or  go  to  school, 
But  play  the  truant ;  fear  not,  I 
Will  straightway  help  thee  to  a  Ue, 
Which  will  excuse  thee  for  the  same. 
From  being  whipt  and  from  all  blame. 
Come,  bow  to  me,  uphold  my  crown, 
And  m  thee  raise  to  high  renown. 


13 


YOUTH. 

HESE    notions  I  wil 
cleave  unto, 
And  let  all  other  counsels  go  ; 
My  heart  against  my  parents  now 
Shall  hardened  be.     I  will  not  bow  ; 
Nor  yet  submit  at  all  to  them, 
But  all  good  counsels  will  condemn : 
And  what  I  list,  that  do  will  I, 
And  stubborn  be  continually. 

CHRIST. 

Wilt  thou,  0  youth,  make  such  a  choicBi 
And  thus  obey  the  devil's  voice  ? 
2 


14 


UCH    sinful   ways    wilt 
thou  embrace, 
And  hate  the  ways  of  truth  and  grace  ? 
Wilt  thou  to  me  a  rebel  prove  ? 
And  from  thy  parents  quite  remove 
Thy  heart  also  ?  then  shalt  thou  see, 
What  will  ere  long  become  of  thee. 
Come,  think  on  God,  who  did  thee  make, 
And  at  his  presence  dread  and  quake. 
Remember  him  now  in  thy  youth. 
And  let  thy  soul  take  hold  of  truth ; 
The  devil  and  his  ways  defy. 
Believe  him  not,  he  doth  but  lie  ; 
His  ways  seem  sweet,  but  youth,  beware  ! 
He  for  thy  soul  bath  laid  a  snare. 


•  Remember  Him  now  in  thy  yonth, 
And  let  thy  soul  take  hold  of  truth." 

Page  14. 


17 


IS  sweet  will  mt* 
sour  turn, 
If  in  those  ways  thou  still  wilt  run  : 
He  will  thee  into  pieces  tear 
Like  lions  which  most  hungry  are. 
Grant  me  thy  heart,  thy  folly  leave, 
And  from  this  lion  I'll  thee  save  j 
And  thou  shalt  have  sweet  joy  from  me, 
Which  will  endure  eternally. 

YOUTH. 

My  heart  shall  cheer  me  in  my  youth, 

I'll  have  my  frolics  in  good  truth  ; 

Whate'er  seems  lovely  in  my  view. 

That  will  I  greedily  pursue. 
2* 


15 


N  mine  own  ways  I  still 
will  walk, 

And  with  the  thoughtless  laugh  and  talk, 
To  spend  my  days  in  joy  and  mirth : 
This  will  I  seek  while  I'm  on  earth  ! 
Thy  ways,  0  Christ,  are  not  for  me ; 
They  with  my  age  do  not  agree : 
If  I  unto  thy  laws  should  cleave. 
No  more  good  days  then  should  I  have. 

CHRIST. 

Wouldst  thou  live  long,  and  good  days  see, 
Refrain  from  all  iniquity ; 
True  good  alone  from  me  doth  flow ; 
It  can't  be  had  in  things  oelow. 


19 


RE  not  my  ways,  0 
^  V   /  youth,  for  thee  ? 

Then  thou  shalt  never  happy  be  ; 
Nor  ever  shall  thy  soul  obtain 
True  good,  whilst  thou  dost  here  remain. 

YOUTH. 

To  thee,  O  Christ,  I'll  not  adhere ; 
Thy  promises  do  not  appear 
Lovely  to  me.    I  cannot  find 
'Tis  good  to  set  my  heart  or  mind 
On  ways  whence  many  sorrows  sprmg, 
And  to  the  flesh  such  crosses  br<ng. 
Don't  trouble  me.     I  must  fulfil 
My  fleshly  mind,  and  have  my  will. 


20 


CHRIST. 

NTO  thyself,  then    I'U 
thee  leave, 
That  Satan  may  thee  wholly  have. 
Thy  heart  in  sin  shall  hardened  be, 
And  blinded  in  iniquity. 
And  then  in  wrath  I'll  cut  thee  down 
Like  as  the  grass  and  flowers  are  mown 
And,  to  thy  wo,  thou  shalt  espy 
Childhood  and  youth  are  vanity  : 
For  all  such  thmgs  I'll  make  thee  know^ 
To  judgment  thou  shalt  come  also  , 
In  hell,  at  last,  thy  soul  must  burn, 
When  thou  thy  sinful  race  hast  run. 


2i 


ONSIDERthis!  think  o« 
thy  end! 
Lest  God  do  thee  in  pieces  rend. 

YOUTH. 

Amaz'd,  0  Lord,  I'll  now  begin  ; 

0  help  me,  and  I'll  leave  my  sin  . 

1  tremble  and  do  greatly  fear. 
To  think  upon  what  I  do  hear. 
To  feel  thy  rod  I  cannot  bear, 
Nor  to  offend  thee  would  I  dare. 
Lord !  I  thy  servant  now  will  be. 
And  turn  from  Satan  unto  thee. 


DEVIL. 

AY,  foolish  youth,  don't 
change  thy  mind, 
Unto  such  thoughts  be  not  inclined  ; 
Come  !  cheer  thy  heart ;  rouse  up !  be  glad^ 
There  is  no  hell :  why  art  thou  sad  ? 
Eat,  drink,  be  merry  with  thy  friend ; 
For  when  thou  diest,  that's  thy  end. 

YOUTH. 

Such  thoughts  as  these  I  can't  receive, 
Because  God's  word  I  do  believe : 
None  shall  in  this  destroy  my  faith, 
Nor  do  1  mind  what  Satan  saith. 


*'  Eat,  drink,  be  merry  with  thy  friend ; 
For  when  thou  diest,  that's  thy  end." 

Page  22. 


25 


DEVIL. 


LTHOUGH  to  thee 
£(?  /  herein  I  vield, 

^et  I  ere  long  shall  win  the  field. 
That  there's  a  heaven,  I  can't  deny, 
Yea,  and  a  hell  of  misery ; 
That  heaven  is  a  lovely  place 
I  can't  deny, — 'tis  a  clear  case, — 
And  easy  is  it  to  come  there  ; 
Therefore  take  thou  no  further  care. 
All  human  laws  do  thou  observe. 
And  from  old  customs  never  swerve  \ 
Do  not  oppose  what  great  men  say, 
And  thou  shalt  never  go  astray. 
3 


26 


fi 

HOU  may'st  be  drunk, 
and  swear  and  curse^ 

And  sinners  think  thee  none  the  worse ; 
At  any  time  thon  may'st  repent, 
'Twill  do  when  all  thy  days  are  spent. 

CHRIST. 

Beware  !  or  else  thou  art  undone  : 
These  thoughts  are  from  the  wicked  one. 
Narrow's  the  way  that  leads  to  life ; 
Who  walk  therein  do  meet  with  strife. 
Strait  is  the  gate,  as  Christians  know, 
But  sinners  in  a  broad  way  go. 
If  righteous  ones  scarce  saved  be, 
What  will  at  last  become  ot  thee  } 


^ 


H !  don't  neglect  m^ 
precious  call, 
Lest  suddenly  in  hell  thou  fall : 
Unless  thou  shalt  converted  be, 
God's  kingdom  thou  canst  never  see. 

YOUTH. 

Lord,  I  am  now  at  a  great  stand. 
If  I  should  yield  to  thy  command. 
My  comrades  would  me  much  deride, 
And  never  more  with  me  abide. 
Moreover  this  I  also  know. 
Thou  can'st,  at  last,  great  mercy  show. 
When  I  am  old  and  pleasure's  gone. 
Then,  what  thou  sayest  I'll  think  upon* 


28 


ILL  then  I'll  walk  in  mj 
own  ways, 
Nor  mind  what  God,  my  maker,  says. 

CHRIST. 

Nay,  hold,  vain  youth !  thy  time  is  short , 
I'll  have  thy  breath,  then  ends  thy  sport ; 
Thou  shalt  not  live  till  thou  art  old. 
Since  thou,  in  sin,  art  grown  so  bold 
I,  in  thy  youth,  grim  death  will  send, 
Then  all  thy  sports  will  have  an  end. 

YOUTH. 

I  am  too  young,  alas,  to  die ; 

Let  death  some  old  gray-head  espy. 


"I,  in  thy  youth,  grim  death  wiU  send, 
Then  all  thy  sports  wUl  have  an  end." 

Page  28. 


31 


SPARE  me  and   I 
will  amend, 
And  with  thy  grace  my  soul  befriend. 
Or  else  I  am  undone,  alas ! 
For  I  am  in  a  woful  case. 

CHRIST. 

When  I  did  call  thou  would*st  not  hear, 
But  did'st  to  me  turn  a  deaf  ear  ; 
And  now  in  thy  calamity, 
I  will  nol  mind  nor  hear  thy  cry  ; 
Thy  day  is  past.    Begone  from  me  t 
Thou  w*ho  didst  love  iniquity 
Above  thy  soul  or  Saviour  dear. 
Who,  on  the  cross,  great  pams  did  bear 


3*2 


Y  mercy  thou  did'st 
much  abuse, 
And  my  good  counsel  did'st  refuse ; 
Justice  will  therefore  vengeance  take, 
And  thee  a  sad  example  make. 

YOUTH. 

O  spare  me,  Lord  !  Forbear  thy  hand  ! 
Don't  cut  me  off,  who  trembling  stand. 
Begging  for  mercy  at  thy  door. 
O,  let  me  live  but  one  year  more ! 

CHKIST, 

If  thou  some  longer  time  should'st  live, 
Thou  would'st  again  to  folly  cleave  ; 


.^ 


HEREFORE,  to  thee  1 
will  not  give 
One  day  on  earth  longer  to  live. 

DEATH. 

Youth !  I  am  come  to  take  thy  breath, 
And  bear  thee  to  the  shades  of  death : 
No  pity  to  thee  I  can  show, 
Thou  hast  thy  God  offended  so. 
Thy  soul  and  body  Pll  divide : 
Thy  body  in  the  grave  Pll  hide. 
Thy  precious  suul  in  hell  must  be, 
With  devils,  to  eternity. 


Thus  end  the  days  of  wicked  youth, 
Who  will  not  hear  nor  mind  the  truth ; 


34 


HO  neither  thmk,  nor 
fear,  nor  pray, 
But  do  their  parents  disobey. 
They,  in  their  youth,  go  do^vn  to  hell, 
Under  eternal  wrath  to  dwell. 
They  do  not  live  out  half  their  days, 
For  cleaving  unto  sinful  ways. 
But  those  who  fear  the  Lord  in  youth, 
Shall  find  the  ways  of  peace  and  truth ; 
They  serve  their  Saviour  here  below, 
And  when  the}"  die  to  heaven  they  go. 


♦♦  But  those  who  fear  the  Lord  in  youth 
Shall  find  the  ways  of  peace  and  truth." 

Page  34. 


See  page  13. 


TRIALS  OF  THE  POOR 


iraiTTEjr  for  the  American  sunday-school  uniow,  ani 

REVISED   BY   TUB  COMMITTEE   OF   PUBLICATION. 


AMERICAN  SUNDAY-SCHOOL   UNION, 

1123  CHESTNUT    ST.,   PHILADELPHIA. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  CJongress,  in  the  year  1842, 
by  Herman  Cope,  Treasurer,  in  trust  for  the  American  Sun- 
day-school Union,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court 
of  the  Eastern  District  of  Pennaylvania. 


L.  JOHNSON,  STEKEOTYPEKi 
PHILADELPHIA. 


TRIALS  OF  THE  POOR. 


One  afternoon,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lane  and  their  two  little  girls  were 
seated  around  the  tea  table.  Their 
meal  consisted  of  the  whitest  and 
lightest  of  home-made  bread,  gold 
en-looking  butter,  which  had  been 
that  day  churned,  cheese,  and  dried 
beef,  with  an  abundant  suj3ply  of 
milk  for  the  children.  As  Mr.  Lane 
handed  Lucy  the  bread,  she  said, 
"  No,  father,  I  do  not  want  any ;" 
and  when  her  mother  filled  her 
1*  5 


(J  TRIALS    OF    Tirr    POOR. 

little  china  cup  with  milk,  she  said^ 
with  a  dissatisfied  manner,  '^I  do 
not  want  any  milk,  mother,  nor  any 
thing  to  eat ;  for  there  is  nothing  1 
love  on  the  tahle." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say,  Lucy,  that 
you  do  not  love  hread  and  butter? 
Your  taste  must  have  altered  greatly 
since  yesterday,  for  you  were  then 
eating  some,  and  I  heard  you  say, 
•  O  how  delicious !'  " 

"  Yes,  mother,  I  did  say  so,  for  I 
was  very  hungry  then,  and  it  tasted 
very  good ;  but  now  I  feel  as  if  .1 
wanted  sweetmeats,  or  cake,  or 
something  nice." 

"  Well,  my  child."  said  her  fath(ir, 
"  if  you  are  not  hungry,  you  may 
leave  the  table.  I  dare  say,  before 
a  great  while,  bread  and  butter  will 
taste  deliciously  again." 


TRIALS    OF    THE    »)0R. 


i 

Hii 


Lucv,  who  had  been  Mning  back 
listlessly  in  her  chair,  did  not  expect 
this.  She  lingered  half  a  moment, 
looking  imploringly  first  at  her 
father,  and  then  at  her  mother,  to 
see  if  what  the  former  had  just  said 
was  to  be  regarded  in  the  light  of  a 
permission  or  a  command,  but  a 
slight  motion  of  her  father's  hand 
left  her  without  doubt  as  to  his 
meaning. 

Lucy  w^alked  to  the  window,  look- 
ing very  sorrowful,  and  sat  down 
there,  but  she  did  not  pout,  nor 
pretend .  she  did  not^  care.  These 
naughty  things  Lucy  never  did,  but 
she  looked  anxiously  at  her  parents, 
as  she  occasionally  raised  her  eyes, 
uncertain  to  what  extent  she  had 
incurred  their  displeasure.  Pre- 
sently Bell  said,  in  a  loud  whisper, 


8  TRIALS    OF    THE    POOR. 

"  Mother,  may  Lucy  come  now  ?'^ 

"Just  as  your  father  says,  my 
dear,"  replied  her  mother. 

Encouraged  by  her  sister's  inter 
session,    Lucy    advanced    to    her 
father,  and  said  in  a  low  tone, 

"  Father,  are  you  angry  with  me  ?" 

"Not  angry,  Lucy,"  replied  her 
affectionate  father,  "  but  quite  dis- 
satisfied with  you,  for  so  ungrate- 
fully finding  fault  with  the  bounties 
which  Providence  bestows  on  you. 
How  many  children  do  you  suppose 
there  are  in  this  town,  who  would 
regard  as  a  rich  feast  the  food  of 
which  you  so  unthankfully  com- 
plain." 

"Will  you  forgive  me,  father!" 
said  Lucy. 

This  was  what  this  little  girl, 
who  was  on  the  whole  a  good  child, 


TRIALS    OF    THE    POOR.  9 

never  failed  to  do.  If  she  did  the 
slightest  thing  to  displease  her  pa- 
rents, she  immediately  confessed 
lier  fault,  and  asked  their  forgive- 
ness. She  was  never  know^n  to  he 
obstinate  or  rebellious,  or  sullen, 
and  the  application  for  the  pardon 
of  her  faults  w^as  never  made  in 
vain. 

After  tea,  Mrs.  Lane  told  the 
children  to  put  on  their  bonnets, 
and  she  would  take  them  to  walk. 
They  were  soon  ready,  and  their 
mother  gave  them  each  a  bundle  to 
carry. 

'•  What  is  in  this  bundle,  mother  ?" 
said  Bell. 

'•  That  is  some  clothing  for  a  poor 
woman,  who  has  a  little  baby,  and 
scarcely  any  thing  for  it  to  wear  " 


10         TRIALS    OF    THE    POOR. 

'•And  what  is  in  riiine.  mother  l"^ 
said  Lucy. 

"Some  rice  and  sugar  for  the 
sick  children.  I  am  going  to  take 
you  with  me  to  Mrs.  Crofts,  w  horn 
you  have  often  seen  at  our  house :  she 
is  very  poor,  and  her  w^orthless  hus- 
band has  gone  off,  and  deserted  his 
family.  It  is  perhaps  better  he 
should  go  away,  than  to  stay  to 
treat  his  poor  wife  so  unkindly,  and 
to  set  so  wretched  an  example  to 
his  children  ;  But  Mrs.  Crofts  could 
not  feed  and  clothe  them,  if  she 
was  not  assisted  by  those  w^ho  know 
her  to  be  a  deserving  woman.  It  is 
some  weeks  since  I  have  seen  or 
heard  from  her,  till  yesterday,  when 
I  w-as  told  that  she  is  greatly  in 
need ;  her  children  are  sick  with 
the  measles  and  she  has  a  babe  but 


TRIALS    OF    THE    POOR.  11 

a  few  weeks  old,  that  wants  cloth- 
ing. Jesus  Christ  says,  '  Ye  have 
the  poor  with  you  always,  and 
whensoever  ye  will,  ye  may  do 
them  good,'  (Mark  xiv.  7  ;)  and  we 
are  also  enjoined,  as  we  have  op- 
portunity, 'to  do  good  unto  all.' 
(Gal.  vi.  10.)  So  having  this  op- 
portunity, it  is  my  duty,  as  well  as 
my  happiness,  to  do  good  to  this 
poor  family.  And  I  take  you  and 
Bell  w  ith  me,  that  you  may  see  how 
thankful  you  should  be  to  a  kind 
Providence,  who  has  '  made  you  to 
differ'  from  those  who  suffer  through 
poverty  and  sickness,  and  who  have 
scarcely  enough  to  eat  or  to  vvear, 
that  you  may  learn  to  value  the 
abundance  w^hich  has  been  granted 
you,  and  to  be  ready  to  distribute, 
and    willing    to    communicate    tc 


12        TRIALS    OF    THE    POOR. 

those  from  whom  God  has  withheld 
so  large  a  share  of  his  bounties. 
But  here  we  are  at  Mrs.  Croft's 
poor  dwelling." 

After  knocking  at  the  door  seve« 
ral  times,  Mrs.  Lane  tried  to  open 
it,  and  found  it  locked.  She  then 
went  to  the  window,  and  looking 
in  at  a  broken  pane,  saw  a  child 
about  five  years  old  lying  in  a  rock- 
ing chair,  that  was  propped  up  so 
as  to  lean  against  the  wall;  she 
looked  very  sick,  and  made  no  re- 
ply to  Mrs.  Lane's  request  to  open 
the  door.  On  a  table  that  stood 
under  the  window,  was  a  bowl  of 
water,  and  a  cup  of  medicine,  with 
a  spoon  laid  across  it.  She  also  dis- 
covered the  key  of  the  door,  which 
had  been  dropped  in  when  the 
mother  left  the  house.     With  this 


TRIALS    OF    THE    POOR.         13 

she  easily  unlocked  the  door,  and, 
on  entering  the  room,  found  another 
sick  child  about  three  years  old,  ly- 
ing in  a  cradle  in  front  of  the  table, 
which  had  concealed  it  from  hei 
view,  before  entering  the  house. 

The  sight  of  these  lonely,  sick 
children  so  affected  Mrs.  Lane  that 
she  could  not  refrain  from  tears. 
After  a  few  moments,  she  approach- 
ed the  cradle,  and  spoke  in  a  soothing 
tone  to  the  little  one  there,  but  the 
sight  of  a  stranger  alarmed  her,  and; 
her  feeble,  whining  cry  soon  brought 
a  neighbour,  who  lived  in  the  back 
part  of  the  house,  to  inquire  into 
the  cause. 

"Where  is  Mrs.  Crofts?"  asked 
Mrs.  Lane,  when  the  woman  ap- 
peared. 

"  She  had  an  opportunity,  ma'am^ 


14        TRIALS    OF    THE    POOR. 

to  do  several  days'  work,  for  wh:ch 
she  is  well  paid,"  replied  the  woman ; 
"  and  as  she  does  not  often  get  such 
a  chance,  and  is  very  much  in  want 
of  money  to  pay  her  rent,  I  told  her 
I  would  come  in  once  in  a  while,  to 
give  the  children  their  medicine, 
and  attend  to  them,  if  they  cried." 
At  this  moment  the  door  opened, 
and  the  mother  of  the  sick  children 
entered,  carrying  her  babe  in  her 
arms,  and  followed  by  a  feeble  look- 
ing girl  about  eight  years  of  age. 
On  seeing  their  mother,  both  of  the 
little  ones  burst  into  a  loud  cry.  It 
seemed  as  if  the  pent  up  grief  of 
the  long,  dreary,  desolate  day,  had 
poured  itself  forth  at  the  sight  of  her, 
on  whose  bosom  they  had  been  ac- 
customed to  lay  their  heads,  and 
mto  whose  ear  they  had  told  ail 


TRIALS    OF    THE    POOR.         15 

their  infantile  sorrows.  She  sank 
into  a  chair,  as  if  completely  ex- 
ha\isted.  and  laying  her  sleeping 
babe  upon  her  knee,  she  covered 
her  face  with  her  hands,  and  wept 
till  h^r  frame  shook  with  emotion. 
The  child  that  was  lying  in  the 
rocking  chair  slid  down  on  the  floor, 
and  feebly  walking  to  her  mother, 
laid  her  head  on  her  shoulder ;  and 
the  little  one  rising  in  her  cradle, 
stretched  out  her  hands  towards  her 
mother,  ciying,  "  Take  a  me,  take  a 
me."  Hannah,  the  eldest  child,  who 
returned  with  the  mother,  took  the 
babe,  unbidden,  and  seating  herself 
on  a  low  stool,  held  it  in  her  arms 
The  vacant  place  o?i  the  mother's 
lap,  was  soon  filled  by  the  child 
from  the  cradle,  who3^  wpiiings 
were  hushed  when  she  nestled  :j< 


16         TRIALS    OF    THE    POOR. 

Jier  mother's  arms,  and  was  folded  t(j 
her  bosom.  The  new  baby  had  for 
so  short  a  time  taken  her  place,  thai 
she  still  felt  it  was  her's  by  right. 

As  soon  as  quiet  was  restored,  and 
Mrs.  Lane's  feelings  would  allow 
her  to  speak,  she  said,  (and  for  the 
moment  she  spoke  reproachfully.) 
"how  could  you,  how  could  you, 
Mrs.  Crofts,  leave  these  sick  child- 
ren for  a  whole  day  ?" 

The  woman  bit  her  lip,  while 
her  convulsed  features  and  heaving 
chest  told  how  stern  was  the  neces- 
sity that  could  compel  her  to  so  un- 
natural a  course  of  conduct.  After 
a  pause,  she  said, 

"  Because,  ma'am,  I  have  neither 
food  nor  clothing  for  them.  My  rent, 
which  has  been  unpaid  for  more 
than  two  months,  amounts  to  better 


TRIALS    OF    THE    POOR.         17 

flian  four  dollars,  for  I  pay  fifty 
cents  a  week  for  tliis  room,  and  the 
landlord  says  he  shall  put  my  things 
in  the  street  if  I  do  not  pay  part  of 
it  by  the  end  of  this  week.  A  few 
days  ago  I  went  to  Mrs.  Strong  for 
work.  Her  laundress  had  just  left 
her,  and  she  said,  if  I  would  come  for 
a  week,  and  wash,  iron  and  clean  for 
her,  she  would  pay  me  four  shillings 
a  day.  This  was  such  an  opportunity 
as  I  seldom  have.  Hannah  had  had 
the  measles,  but  as  it  was  nearly  two 
weeks  since,  I  thought  the  little 
ones  were  not  going  to  take  the 
disease,  so  I  told  Mrs.  Strong  I 
would  come  Well,  ma'am,  I  took 
Hannah  to  take  care  of  the  baby, 
and  went  there  last  Monday  morn- 
ing, leaving  Betsey  and  Ann  at 
home.  When  I  came  home,  Betsey 

2* 


18        TRIALS    OF    THE    POOR. 

was  crying  with  the  headache  ;  she 
was  feverish  and  light-headed  all 
night,  and  hefore  morning  Ann  was 
taken  sick,  so  that  I  had  no  rest ; 
still  I  thought  I  must  go  in  the 
morning ;  so  I  fixed  Betsey  in  the 
rocking-chair  and  Ann  in  the  cradle, 
and  kissed  them,  and  told  them  to 
be  good  children,  and  went  with  a 
heavy  heart  to  my  work." 

Here  the  tears  rolled  down  her 
(jheeks,  and  she  was  obliged  to  clear 
her  throat  before  she  could  proceed. 
"  Mrs.  Thomas,''  she  continued, 
"  promised  to  come  in  and  give  them 
their  medicine,  and  speak  a  kind 
word  to  them  now  and  then,  and 
Betsey  said  if  Ann  cried,  she  would 
try  to  sing  to  her.  Twice,  while 
the  baby  slept  yesterday,  I  sent  Han- 
nah home  to  cheer  them  a  little,  and 


TRIALS    OF    THE    POOR.         19 

tell  them  mother  would  come  as 
soon  as  she  had  done  her  work.  1 
found  them  very  sick,  when  I  came 
home  last  night,  and  passed  another 
leepless  night.  This  morning,  they 
both  clung  to  me,  and  cried  so  hard 
that  I  thought  I  could  not  leave 
them ;  but  I  was  obliged  to  harden 
my  heart,  and  leave  them  crying, 
for  I  thought  of  being  turned  into 
the  street.  So  I  told  them  if  they 
would  be  good  children  and  stop 
crying,  and  let  me  go  to-day,  1 
would  not  leave  them  again  till  they 
got  well.  So  I  went  again,  and  I  have 
brought  home  twelve  shillings,  the 
earnings  of  three  sad  days,  to  pay 
towards  my  rent.  Mrs.  Strong  has 
been  very  kind,  and  has  given  me 
some  clothing  for  the  children  «ind 
some  provisions  besides." 


<20         TRIALS    OF    THE    POOR. 

"  But  why  did  you  not  come  or 
send  to  me  ?"  said  Mrs.  Lane  ;  •'  you 
knew  I  would  assist  you." 

"O,  ma'am,  I  was  ashamed  to 
come  to  you  again,  you  have  helped 
me  so  much.  I  expect  to  work,  and 
am  glad  to  do  so,  only  it  came  hard 
to  leave  the  children  sick." 

"  Yes,  yours  indeed  was  a  sad 
necessity,  but  you  must  have  some 
other  way  to  live,"  said  Mrs.  Lane. 
"  Have  you  never  learned  a  trade  ?" 

"  O  yes,  ma'am.  Before  I  was 
married,  I  worked  at  straw-bonnet 
making,  and  I  was  a  nice  hand  at  it. 
I  was  careful  of  my  earnings,  and 
did  not  spend  them  for  fine  clothes. 
so  that  when  1  was  married,  I  had 
enough  to  furnish  my  little  house 
with  all  that  I  needed ;  but  my  hus- 
band"— she  paused,  for  she  could 


TRIALS    OF    THE    POOR.        21 

not  bear  to  speak  of  his  faults,  par- 
ticularly before  the  children ;  '^  you 
know  ma'am,  the  history  of  my 
troubles,"  she  added ;  "  one  and 
mother  of  my  things  have  gone  to 
pay  for  his  ruin  and  my  wretched- 
ness, and  sometimes  I  feel  as  if  I 
could  do  no  more.  O,  were  it  not 
for  the  consolations  of  religion,  I 
should  sink,  but  I  find  in  the  word 
of  God  a  something  that  heals  my 
wounded  spirit;  and  when  I  feel 
like  repining  or  complaining,  I  draw 
comfort  from  this  book,  that  the 
world  knows  nothing  of." 

Mrs.  Lane  continued  some  time 
in  conversation  with  this  poor  wo- 
man, in  which  she  not  only  encou- 
raged her  by  kind  counsel,  but  gave 
her  such  assistance  as  her  circum- 
stances required,  and  by  which  she 


22        TRIALS    OF    THE    POOR. 

was  enabled  to  pay  her  rent,  and 
procure  some  comforts,  of  whicli 
she  and  her  children  were  in  need. 
She  also  promised  to  assist  her  in 
procuring  employment  from  some 
of  the  milliners.  This  benevolent 
object  she  was  very  successful  in 
accomplishing ;  for  the  first  milli- 
ner  to  w^hom  she  applied,  told  her 
she  had  more  work  than  she  could 
possibly  attend  to.  and  would  be 
very  glad  to  employ  a  good  hand  to 
alter,  whiten  and  press  hats.  Mrs. 
Croft's  work  was  so  well  done,  that 
she  soon  had  as  much  work  as  she 
could  attend  to,  and  she  and  her  lit- 
tle ones  began  to  see  better  days. 

Lucy  learned  a  lesson  from  her 
visit  to  Mrs.  Crofts,  which  she  has 
never  forgotten ;  and  no  doubt, 
m  consequence  of  it,  she  will  not 


TRIALS    OF    THE    POOR. 


25 


only  receive  with  gratitude  the  fa- 
vours which  Providence  bestows  on 
her,  hut  will,  through  life,  be  one 
of  those  who  "  remember  the  poor." 


